The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-06-22


great care, Jack presented himself at the
hotel at the appointed hour. He was
shown into No. AZ, and to his anazement
found himself face to face with Miss
Trott, his enemy of the Konigsstuhl.
Too taken aback to defend himself, he
stood meek as lamb, while the lady,
more irate than ever, overwhelmed him
with a volley of abuse AS the storm
subsidized and she grew a little calmer, she
began:
"Now, sir Au will please explain to
me how my Bfother's gold-headed stick,
gift from an old army friend who is no
more, came into your possession. had
it in my hand the day of your shameless
assault in the Konis Istuhl, and have
mourned its loss ever Jince, till now Fate
restores it to me. lou had better tell
the truth; the most ingenious lie will not
help you, for have police officer out
side the door to cut off your escape"
''Do you mean 10 say that you accuse
me of Stealing ytyur stick during that
unlucky collision at the Konigsstuhl2"
Jack asked, slowly recovering from his
bewilderment.
Remembering the mysterious way in
which my watch managed to fasten itself
to your sleeve, and losing at the same
time valuable locket wore round my
neck, l do accuse you of stealing my
brother Major Trott's walking stick"
"Upon my word, madam, never in
my life heard such preposterous follyl 1
must have swallowed your stick to be
able to get off with it that day, under
your very eyes,"
''Pray don't get violent and abusive /;
it will not do you the least good. A clev-
er rogue could manage to conceal half a
dozen such sticks in his sleeve. No, sir,
I'm not so easily appeased; / demand to
know how this piece of property came in
to your possession, and what have you
done with my locket2"
81 bought that stick at a junk shop,
two days ago, on the Tannengasse. 1
know nothing at all about your locket
Now, if you please, we will consider this
ridiculous interview at an end; if you
can prove the stick isyours you may keep
it and welcome. 1 confess something of
an aversion for it since the beginning of
our amiable discussion"
''Not so fast, young man." said Miss
Trott, grimly, backing toward the door,
which she opened, leaving Jack grinding
his teeth with rage as he heard the key
turn in the lock, making him prisoner.
Herr Isaacssohn, when questioned
about the gold headed walking stick, fiat.
ly denied all acquaintance or connection
with it; IN buying it from shabby look
ing renovator of disabled umbrellas he
had strongly suspected theft; now, as
inquiry arose about it, he scented danger
for himself in the affair, and swore that
it had never been in his shop.
This complicated matters for Jack, who
had nobody to testify in his favor. Miss
Trott laid the case before lawyer glad
of a chance for occupation, and in the
course of an hour Jack was informed that
he would be released on bail only, and
under bond to appear for trial three days
hence. If he refused to furnish the sum
named, he would be lodged at the expense
of the town among other malefactors.
The poor boys funds were low, and he
could not possibly furnish the amount re-
quired without weeks delay-a con-
fession which he made frankly.
Still under lock and key at No. 40, he
was allowed a few hours for reflection
before his ignominious removal to the
Wildbad Jail. He glanced about the room
to see what chances it offered for escape
glass doors led from it upon balcony
two stories from the ground, and com
municating with other rooms. He could
not jump from it, nor could he make his
way through somebody's else's room; be-
sides, such a sneaking, underhand kind
of escape would put him in worse light
with some people whom he wished to i'm
press favorably. There seemed nothing
for him but to grin and bear with mod
crate patience few days in the lookup.
How deplorably he had miscalculated
the effect of his honeyed bribe to the
Truman baby He had succeeded only
in making himself thoroughly ridiculous,
if not disgraced, in the eyes of the girl
for whose good opinion he craved Jack
was aroused from the dreariest of medi-
tations by tapping on the glass door of
the balcony; it opened, and Margery,
white and trembling, stood before him.
II beg your pardon for disturbing you,
Mr.. Aiken" she began, in timid,
| hurried voice; "but / wanted to give you
this, holding out tiny purse of gold
network. "Please don't refuse"
''But Miss Dayre, really"
You must take tit is enough to pay
the fine that that abominable old woman
demands. l am so sorry and ashamed
for what has happened, when you were
so kind to my little nephew, That
horrid, suspicious Miss Trott-she saw
your stick when Seratina brought it home
with baby, and pounced on it like a mad
thing, declaring you had stolen it. She
made my sister Clara promise to keep
quiet till she had asked a lot of questions
about you. l wouldn't promise, for /
think it all such an insult. Take the
money and say nothing about my giving
it to you. Now | must go-it viii not
do TO let them find me here"
Jack, his eyes bright and humid with
delight and gratitude, took the little
hand with its graceful offering and
pressed it TO his lips more than once,
Margery seeming too agitated to think
of drawing it away. There was sound
of approaching footsteps outside, and she
retired as swiftly and noiselessly as she
| had come.
Thanks to this surreptitious loan, Jack
was spared an intimate acquaintance with
/ prison regulations in the Black Forest;